Double lockwasher construction



Nov. 15, 1966 R. F. BLAKESLEY DOUBLE LOCKWASHER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1964 1956 R. F. BLAKESLEY 3,285,313

DOUBLE LOCKWASHER CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,285,313 DOUBLE LOCKWASHER CONSTRUCTION Roland F. Blakesley, Bloomfield Hills, Micl1., assignor to Essex Wire Corporation, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 388,363 2 Claims. (Cl. 151-35) This invention relates to a double-layer type of lockwasher having a pair of washer-like elements arranged face-to-face and each having radially inwardly extending locking teeth, the locking teeth of one washer-like element being circnmferentially staggered relative to the locking teeth of the other washer-like element.

One object of the invention is to provide two washerlike elements integrally stamped from sheet metal or the like and connected together by one or more arms that can 'be bent U-shape in order to position one washer-like element face-to-face relative to the other.

Another object is to provide a double lockwasher formed of either two completely circular washer-like elements connected together by one such arm or one completely circular and two half-circle washer-like elements connected together by two such arms.

Still another object is to provide the locking teeth of each washer-like element extending in an axial direction toward the other element whereby the teeth cross each other for maximum effectiveness of the locking action.

A further object is to provide the locking teeth of the lock-washer with concave inner ends to bite into opposed surfaces to 'be engaged thereby when the lockwasher is in use.

A still further object is to provide a lockwasher in which five locking actions take place.

(1) Between locking teeth and a terminal stud.

(2) Between locking teeth and a terminal nut.

(3) Between locking teeth and an applied surface.

(4) Frictional locking between one side of the lockwasher and the terminal nut.

(5) Frictional locking between the other side of the lockwasher and the applied surface.

An additional object is to provide a lockwasher having locking teeth designed to provide cutting action for electrical contact purposes.

Another additional object is-to provide a lockwasher which may have integrally formed therewith means to mechanically and electrically connect the washer to an insulated conductor whereby a combined lockwasher and terminal is provided.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my dou ble lockwasher construction, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in detail on the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates one pattern for forming from sheet metal a double lockwasher embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the lockwashers in its final formed shape;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the lockwasher in association with an applied surface, a terminal stud and a terminal nut before the nut is tightened;

FIG. 5 is a similar diagrammatic sectional view showing the position of the parts after the nut is tightened;

FIG. 6 illustrates another pattern similar to F I G. 1 showing a different form of my double lockwasher;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a lockwasher similar to FIG. 2 but using the pattern of FIG. 6;

ice

FIG. 8 illustrates still another pattern similar to FIG. 1 showing a combined lockwasher and terminal;

FIG. 9 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 using the combined lockwasher and terminal pattern of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of FIG. 9, and

FIG. 11 is a plan view similar to FIG. 9 using the pattern of FIG. 1 including a terminal, part of which is shown dotted, and all of which is illustrated in FIG. 8.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 (FIG. 1) to indicate a first washer-like element. A second washer-like element is formed of two half washer-like elements 12 and 14. The washerlike element 10 has four inwardly directed locking teeth 16 extending substantially radially and each of the elements 12 and 14 has two inwardly directed locking teeth 18 and 20, respectively. The first and second washer-like elements are preferably formed integrally with each other by stamping the same from sheet metal or the like with a pair of connecting arms 22 and 24. The first washerlike element may be plain as illustrated or provided with a terminal shown generally at 27 by dotted lines as will later be described in detail.

The washer-like elements 10 and 1214 are (in the final lock-washer construction) arranged face-to-face as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 but remain integrally connected with each other by the connecting arms 22 and 24 which are doubled U-sh-ape as illustrated in FIG. 3. The washerlike elements are preferably cupped '(by the formation of circumferential bevels 25) with the concave faces thereof toward each other. The locking teeth are inclined instead of remaining in the plane of the washer-like element, those of one washer being inclined toward and extending through the other washer, and the teeth of the other washer being inclined toward and extending through the first washer. The teeth thus cross each other. As shown in FIG. 2 the teeth 16 alternate with the teeth 18-20, the teeth 16 being spaced apart around the circle of the first washer-like element, and the teeth 18-20 being likewise spaced 90 apart around the circle of the second washer-like element but displaced 45 with respect to the teeth thereof. The inner ends of the locking teeth are punched out concave as shown at 28 (see circle 26 in FIG. 1) which provides for each log a pair of sharp projecting corners for a purpose which will hereina'fter appear.

Instead of the pattern of FIG. 1 my double lockwasher construction can be formed of two complete circular washer-like elements 10 and 12 as shown in FIG. 6 with locking teeth 16 and 18 and a single connecting arm 22*. The connecting ar-m 22 is doubled U-shaped as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10.

FIG. 8 illustrates still another pattern including the teranimal shown generally at '27 and comprising a laterally extending arm 29 for one of the washer-like elements. The arm has a pair of conductor-engaging ears 30 and a pair of insulation-engaging ears 32 for an insulated conductor 34 shown in FIG. 9. This figure also illustrates the ears 30 and 32 crirnped into engagement with the conductor 36 and the insulation 38 of the conductor 34.

In FIG. 1.1 I illustrate a terminal type lockwasher such as shown in FIG. 9 but with one complete and two halfwasher-like elements as in FIG. 1 instead of two complete washer-like elements as in FIG. 6. Thus, both types of lockwasher patterns are suitable for either the plain lockwasher or the combined lockasher and terminal. When the washer is made up merely as a lockwasher, it is hardened all over. When made up as a combined lockwasher and terminal only the Washer part is hardened,

the cars 30 and 32 being left annealed for ready bending as in FIG. 9 to encompass the insulated wire 34.

A lockwasher of the character disclosed has a number of advantages particularly with respect to multiple lock actuation and cutting action for electrical contact purposes. These advantages are diagrammatically shown by comparing FIG. 5 with FIG. 4 wherein an applied surface 40, a terminal stud 42 and a terminal nut 44 are illustrated. In FIG. 4 the terminal nut has been run down on the terminal stud until contact between the lower edges of the locking lugs 18 and 20 and the applied surface 40, and between the upper edges of the locking lugs 16 and the lower surface of the nut have been established. It will be noted that the upwardly inclined locking teeth 16 of the lower washer-like element project above the up per surface of the upper washer-like element 12-14 while the downwardly incline-d locking teeth 18 and 20 of the upper washer-like element 12-14 project below the lower surface of the lower washer-like element 10. Accordingly the lower surface of 10 and the upper surface of 12 are held spaced from the applied surface 40 and the bottom surface of the terminal nut 44 respectively.

As the nut 44 is tightened down on the stud 42 as in FIG. 5 the inclination of the locking teeth 16, 18 and 20 decreases and their effective internal diameter decreases so that they lock with respect to the applied surface, the stud and the nut by reason of their sharp corners result ing from the concave formations 28 digging in as indicated at 46, 48 and 50, respectively (shown somewhat exaggerated). Thus, all eight locking lugs dig into the terminal stud 42 for good electrical contact purposes, and likewise dig into the applied surface 40 and the nut 44 which may have insulating coatings or coatings of oxide, both of which are broken through by the digging action. .The concave inner ends 28 of the locking teeth present sharp corners as illustrated in FIG. 4 to cut through any insulation or oxide coating and thus insure good and adequate electrical contact between the lockwasher and current carrying parts of the terminal construction.

In the final tightened position of the terminal nut 44, the lower surface to the lower washer-like element :10 frictionally engages the app-lied surface 40 and the upper surface of the upper washer-like element 12-14 frictionalily engages the .lower surface of the terminal nut 24 for further locking the nut against retrograde movement due to vibration or other forces. The two sharp inner corners of each locking tooth digging in as they do with respect to the applied surface 40 and the lower surface of the terminal nut 44 also locks the nut against retrograde movement relative to the applied surface.

From the foregoing specification it will be obvious that I have provided a double lockwasher of particularly effective design having a multiple-locking feature relative to an applied surface, a terminal stud and a terminal nut. The lockwasher may be readily designed as a simple lockwasher or a combined lockwasher and terminal as described.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my double lockwasher construction without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a one-piece double lockwasher construction, a pair of dished washer-like elements integrally connected together in face-to-face relationship with the concave surfaces facing each other, each of said washer-like elements having a central opening with a plurality of substantially radially inwardly directed locking teeth extending from the periphery thereof, the teeth of each washer-like element being inclined toward the other washer-like element and being circumferentially staggered relative to the teeth on said other element so as to project between said teeth to a position beyond the outer surface of said other elements to lockingly impinge adjacent work piece surfaces when clamped thereagainst, the terminal ends of said locking teeth being arcuate in the transverse direction with the concavity thereof facing away from said surfaces whereby the corners of said terminal ends define relatively sharp points, said washer-like elements comprising a first washer-like element of complete circular form having a pair of diametrically opposite arms extending from the other periphery thereof and folded to U-shape and each terminating in a half washer-like element, the two of which together form the second washer-like element.

.2. In a one-piece double lockwasher construction, a pair of dished washer-like elements integrally connected together in face-toface relationship with the concave surfaces facing each other, each of said washer-like elements having a central opening with a plurality of substantially radially inwardly directed locking teeth extending from the periphery thereof, the teeth of each washer-like element being inclined toward the other washer-like element and being cir-cumferentially staggered relative to the teeth on said other element so as to project between said teeth to a position beyond the outer surface of said other element to lockingly impinge adjacent work piece surfaces when clamped thereagainst, the terminal end of said locking teeth being arcuate in the transverse direction with the concavity thereof facing away from said surfaces whereby the corners of said terminal ends defined relatively sharp points, said washer-like elements comprising a pair of washer-like elements, each of complete circular form and having an arm connecting the periphery of one with the periphery of the other and 'folded to U- shape with said pair of washer like elements in axial alignment with each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 336,892 3/ 1886 Calender 151-38 678,415 7/1901 Mallory et al. 50 1,697,954 1/ 1929 Gribbie 151-35 1,724,595 8/ 1929 Hyle 151-34 1,878,199 9/ 1932 Stenger 15135 2,149,359 3/1939 Olson 151-37 3,190,333 6/ 1 965 Lanius 15135 FOREIGN PATENTS 966,761 3/ 1950 France. 661,412 6/1938 Germany.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

R. S. BRITTS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A ONE-PIECE DOUBLE LOCKWASHER CONSTRUCTION, A PAIR OF DISHED WASHER-LIKE ELEMENTS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER IN FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CONCAVE SURFACES FACING EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID WASHER-LIKE ELEMENTS HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING WITH A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY INWARDLY DIRECTED LOCKING TEETH EXTENDING FROM THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, THE TEETH OF EACH WASHER-LIKE ELEMENT BEING INCLINED TOWARD THE OTHER WASHER-LIKE ELEMENT AND BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY STAGGERED RELATIVE TO THE TEETH ON SAID OTHER ELEMENT SO AS TO PROJECT BETWEEN SAID TEETH TO A POSITION BEYOND THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID OTHER ELEMENTS TO LOCKING IMPINGE ADJACENT WORK PIECE SURFACES WHEN CLAMPED THEREAGAINST, THE TERMINAL ENDS OF SAID LOCKING TEETH BEING ARCUATE IN THE TRANSVERSE DIRECTION WITH THE CONCAVITY THEREOF FACING AWAY FROM SAID SURFACES WHEREBY THE CORNERS OF SAID TERMINAL ENDS DEFINE RELATIVELY SHARP POINTS, SAID WASHER-LIKE ELEMENT OF COMPRISING A FIRST WASHER-LIKE ELEMENT OF COMPLETE CIRCULAR FORM HAVING A PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE ARMS EXTENDING FROM THE OTHER PERIPHERAL THEREOF AND FOLDED TO U-SHAPE AND EACH TERMINATING IN A HALF WASHER-LIKE ELEMENT, THE TWO OF WHICH TOGETHER FORM THE SECOND WASHER-LIKE ELEMENT. 